More than 30,000 police jobs ‘to be lost in next 4 years’, warns Labour

More than 30,000 police jobs will be lost in the next four years, according to Labour.

Warning: Yvette Cooper

The opposition has compiled an online ‘map’ of total police cuts announced so far in England and Wales.

More than 12,500 police officer and 16,500 civilian staff posts are set to go, the party will today claim at the website’s launch.

‘Across the country, over 12,500 police officers and thousands more support staff are being lost and it is local communities that will pay the price,’ said shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper .

‘The Tory-led government is taking too many risks with the fight against crime. The home secretary urgently needs to change course before it is too late.’

But a government insider last night hit back, claiming police numbers were already falling under the last government.

‘Labour’s hypocrisy is breathtaking,’ he said.

‘They left us with the biggest budget deficit in our peacetime history, police numbers were falling under their watch and they pointedly refused to guarantee police numbers after the election.

‘Unlike Labour, we have a clear plan to make sure we get officers out on to the frontline by cutting red tape, abolishing all of Labour’s targets and electing police and crime commissioners so that policing reflects the needs of local communities.

‘Unlike Labour, we have a clear plan to cut crime.’

Police forces have been ordered to make 20 per cent cuts to their budgets.

A Home Office spokeswoman added that the department believes ‘police forces can make the necessary savings while protecting frontline services’.